Stem cell engineering to establish tolerance and reverse autoimmunity

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

The immune system is designed to protect us from harmful invaders such as bacteria, viruses and parasites. It should not attack our own tissues. However, in certain individuals, the immune system does attack our own tissues leading to life threatening conditions such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis. To date, there is no cure for autoimmune diseases. Treatment is designed to treat the destructive effects of the disease. A strategy for achieving a cure is to program the immune system to remove the harmful immune cells. Autoimmune gastritis which leads to pernicious anaemia is an autoimmune disease which affects the acid secreting cells of the stomach. To get a better understanding of autoimmune diseases, animal models are often used. We use a number of mouse models of autoimmune gastritis which closely resembles the human disease and thus makes a very good working model. Using these models we are exploring novel techniques aimed at reversing or curing established disease. This relies on removing the disease causing cells from the body and re-programming the immune system so as not to produce these cells.